Sunday Homework Makes the Grade

High on the priority list for first-year Coach Mike Babcock was to turn the Arrowhead Pond into a true home-ice advantage again for the Mighty Ducks.

Midway into the season, Babcock has reached his goal with the Ducks owning a 9-6-5 record heading into tonight’s game against St. Louis.

The key to the Ducks’ positive home record has been their ability to take advantage of 5 p.m. games on Sundays. After losing two of their first three games played at home on Sundays this season, the Ducks have gone 5-0-2.

Eight of Anaheim’s 11 Sunday opponents, including the Blues, played road games on Saturday. A definite advantage for the Ducks, who normally start their home games at 7:30 p.m.

“If you come out against a team that played the night before and get off to a really good start ... you obviously have an edge,” center Matt Cullen said. “They may be a little fatigued and lack a little jump. If you get out there and bang them around and get ahead early, it’s not unusual for a team to start feeling like the game is just a continuation from the night before. It’s a lot easier to pack it in.”

The Ducks are 2-0-1 in their last three games played on Sunday against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference.

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Center Andy McDonald (concussion), Mike Leclerc (knee) and Mike Brown (back) will not play tonight because of injuries, but the Ducks will get center Marc Chouinard back after he sat out three games because of a neck strain and minor concussion.

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TONIGHT

vs. St. Louis, 5, Channel 9

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 16-16-7-3, Blues 23-12-5-3.

Record vs. Blues -- 2-0-0-0.

Update -- Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere played well down the stretch in a 5-3 victory at Colorado on Thursday. Giguere has given up five combined goals but faced 73 shots in two victories over the Blues this season.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946